Cloths and sponges- being hygienic

[Sistermoondance]

Hi there,

A very boring question really. How long do you use the same sponges / cloths for?

I tend to replace washing up sponges weekly and cloths to wipe down kitchen surfaces a bit more frequently. After using them I rinse them out, but I worry because my dh never does and leaves them either scrunched up on the worktop or floating in dirty dish water. Makes me wonderif I should replace them daily :-s but don't want to be excessive or spend a fortune. My dh already thinks I have a cloth OCD as I ask him to use a diff sponge to clean the cats dishes..

What do you lovely ladies think?

I replace mine daily but it doesn't cost huge amounts more to add a few to a hot wash. I don't throw them out after one use.

Top tip from Kim and Aggie - last thing at night put your cloths in a bowl of warm water with a drop of bleach and a little squirt of washing up liquid. Et voila - fresh cloths and sponges every morning!

Ooh good idea... Although I have noticed that washing up sponges go a weird colour when you put them in bleach (from cleaning the bathroom). Also could be slightly problematic for my other half who never rinses cloths and just dumps stuff (including stuff which would go in 3 mo dd's mouth like bottles in the washing up bowl no matter what I say to him- he just forgets- not being malicious and usually trying to be helpful as he clearing up.

I may have to wait till dd is a little older as I don't want to risk her drinking out of a bottle recently dipped in bleach :-s

Washing machine is a good idea though... Although would it kill salmonella?

I pop mine in the dishwasher everynight.

If you don't have a dishwasher = you could put it in the washing up bowl and just pour bowling water on it

oh blimey - sorry bowling = boiling

I have a clean dish cloth every day and just put them in the.washing machine on a hot wash. I don't use sponges or brushes.

Don't replace mine on a weekly basis but a 30 second blast in the microwave kills off any nasties

I put my dishcloths and tea towels in with the bedding or towels on 90 degree wash. I use a new cloth every day.

i have machine washable micro fibre cloths and wash them most days.

i have a sponge for washhing up (not surfaces) and change it weekly or more... just get the cheap ones so i just bin them and dont care

I do the same as CeliaFate

i have just bought an ecloth from lakeland and love it..will be buying more..it is machine washable & has a lifetime guarantee I think

Stick dishcloth in washing machine every few days.

Do use different cloth for cats bowls.

I'm the only person in my house who does the washing up.
I use sponges for a week, but before each use, I run some water onto it and pop it in the microwave for 20/30 secs to sterilise it.
Wipe down cloths go in the wash after I've wiped down the counters

never use sponges
use a new cloth at least every day

I use microfibre cloths. A new one at least every day and they go in a hot wash, it's no bother. I either put my sponges in the dishwasher or the washing machine every few days and replace them when they go all wierd. I used to do the bleach thing too but they go very strange even after the first time.

I usually wash mine weekly (cloths), but all cloths and sponges get rinsed out and put on kitchen radiator to dry out after each use

I use at least two cloths a day and just bung them in the washing machine and they get done with the next load.

they are all completely ew.

kitchen roll instead of cloths

brushes instead of sponges (boiled regularly)

my name is TerrorFirmer and I am a germophobe

FirmTerror to the terrafirma eh?

What is the problem with sponges?I see an anti sponge theme on here.

Do people use a cloth to clean plates etc- don't you need something more effective or does everyone have dishwashers?

I use a clean cloth at least once a day. We have a brush, no sponges.. Stubborn marks i use wire wool or brillo pad. Thats only if it cant or wont fit in the dishwasher. I dont know anyone without a a dishwasher

am reading this in shame. i use sponges til the scourer rubs off. clean them in the washing machine maybe once every couple months. i use an enjo mitt to clean surfaces and we have a dishwasher so only wash up pans etc but yeah the sponges are pretty rank if i think about it. hmmm. need more ecloths then i guess?
i am soooo not a 'natural' at this cleaning lark...

Didy...bet you're more fun though!

When I make tea or coffee and I know I'm not going to have another cup any time soon, I pour the rest of the boiling water from the ketthle over the dishcloth and wring it out to dry and hang it up. I put cloths in the dishwasher too when I remember. I keep using them for days and days - you know when a dishcloth has gone manky cos it smells. I change my sponges maybe once a fortnight! Never had a problem here.

I don't use sponges and cloths go into the wash everyday (the basket that is, I wash them together with the towels at 60).
the dish brush goes into the dishwasher every now and then.